Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib),

B) Eau Claire Dells to Badger Rd. (4.6 miles)

Eau Claire Dells

Eau Claire Dells
Photo by Mark Mastalski taken 07/01/02 @ 100cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

Put-in above the dam on the upstream side of the park (which straddles either side of the main road). The far-right gate of the dam is normally runnable.

A short stretch of rapids with some minor play potential lead to a very scenic dells with an intense zig-zag of channels and drops. Riverbooks indicate the river drops 65' in 1.5 miles (44fpm). Often boaters just do a park-and-play in a county park where the bulk of that drop is concentrated.

Downstream of the dells, boulderbed rapids proceed past random rocky outcroppings for the next mile or so, leading down to and around either side of a large island. The gradient eases for a while leading toward and beyond CTH.Z, before reaching another island. Again, either side is runnable, with the left being narrower and potentially more interesting, as it takes it's drop through a mini-dells with good waves and holes. As the island ends and the flows rejoin, the gradient eases, and the remainder of the float to Badger Road is flatwater.